Environment

A CHAPELLE d’ABONDANCE - Portus du Soleil: Authentic and picturesqueThe French village of La Chapelle is an authentic, picturesque community located in the high mountains of the Upper Savoy, close to the Swiss border. It lies in the heart of the Abondance valley, an area well-known for its delicious cheeses and gorgeous wines. The local cuisine is truly formidable and the various food products of the valley, which are still made according to artisanal recipes, are world-renowned: Abondance cheese, the region’s dried meat, juniper-smoked ham, terrines and rillettes prepared with local beef or game. And of course, the wonderful regional wines that go with these products need no introduction!

Mont Blanc Alpine Estate is situated in ‘La Joly’ and it is no accident that this is in fact the most picturesque corner of the village. The complex stands next to La Chappelle’s beautiful church, whose splendid frescoes and floor of authentic Jerusalem stone have earned it a monumental status. Furthermore, Mont Blanc Alpine Estate is only 50 metres from the ‘Crêt Béni’ base station, which is also the starting point for a number of cross-country skiing trails.

The apartments and the chalet offer a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, the pistes and the cross-country skiing trails. It is a truly pleasant and relaxing environment and the friendly locals are very ‘service-minded’. They are more than happy to accommodate the visitors to their village and ensure that they want for nothing.

You can find a wide selection of shops, bars and – in many cases quality – restaurants in La Chapelle d’Abondance and the nearby villages of Châtel (France) and Morgins (Switzerland). In addition, these communities offer a rich and varied range of entertainment options for people of all ages.

AccessibilityLa Chapelle is very easy to reach, whether arriving by car, plane or train. The driving distance from Amsterdam is some 950 kilometres, meaning that the village is actually nearer than many of its Austrian and/or Swiss counterparts. In fact, the French Alps in general enjoy excellent accessibility. Thanks to France’s modern network of motorways, one can usually reach the Rhône-Alpes region in a matter of ten hours. In the winter, the French motorways that lead to the Alps are for the greater part clear of snow and any snow that does fall is promptly cleared by the road authorities. The last leg of the journey usually involves some climbing, but here, too, maintenance is excellent: roads are quickly cleared and gritted after a snowfall.

La Chapelle lies only 65 kilometres from Geneva International Airport, which has excellent connections with Amsterdam and Brussels, among other cities (EasyJet, Air France-KLM, Swiss International Air Lines, etc.).

The PORTES DU SOLEIL skiing areaWith over 650 kilometres of pistes, PORTES DU SOLEIL is the largest skiing area in Europe and home to a large number of well-known ski resorts, including Avoriaz, Châtel, Morzine and the Swiss villages of Morgins and Les Crosets. Whether you enjoy alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, Nordic walking, telemarking or luging: this vast, beautiful winter sports area offers something for everyone, from wide ski slopes to peaceful woodlands and forest trails.

LAC LÉMAN: Wonderful summer holidays near Lake GenevaThe Mont Blanc Alpine Estate in La Chapelle d’Abondance is located less than 35 kilometres from Lac Léman, better known around the world as Lake Geneva. In other words, besides offering a fantastic winter sports experience, the area is also a perfect home base for the summer holiday of a lifetime:

GolfThe area offers ample opportunity to play on a number of world-renowned golf courses: the Évian Masters Golf Club, Villars, SION, Les Gets, etc.

Tennis

The Mont Blanc Alpine Estate has a private outdoor tennis court.

Mountain bikingAt least 14 ski lifts remain operational over the summer to transport enterprising mountain bikers and their bicycles to a number of mountain tops. From here, you can make a lightning-fast descent along one of the special downhill courses. Recently, a brand-new track was constructed between La Chapelle and Châtel along the banks of the Dranse River, for mountain bikers who wish to relax and enjoy the natural splendour of this beautiful region.

Horse ridingLa Chapelle and its environs offer a wealth of opportunities for recreational riding. For example, you can take a number of special mountain trails to make an unforgettable cross-over to Switzerland.

Mountain excursionsThanks to the region’s numerous Alpine huts – many of which offer accommodation for the night – visitors have unlimited opportunities to explore the mountains of the Upper Savoy. Or you can focus on discovering the local flora and fauna during your hike, against the magnificent backdrop of the region’s mountain slopes.

Water sportsWhat about taking a delightful boat tour of Lake Geneva and rounding it off with a delicious lunch or dinner in the fashionable and vibrant city of Lausanne? It’s all close at hand at the Mont Blanc Alpine Estate.The Dranse River, which cuts through the Abondance Valley, offers numerous opportunities for white-water activities such as canoeing and rafting – either on your own or with a guide.

Paraglide with an instructor or fly like a birdIf you like, you can glide in tandem with an instructor over the Abondance Valley or strap up in a comfortable harness to fly like a bird across the Dranse River (a solo flight at over 60 km/hour along a 240-m high zip line).

ShoppingYou can shop to your heart’s content in renowned centres like Geneva, Evian-les-Bains, Thonon, Lausanne and Montreux. None of these towns and cities is more than an hour’s drive from the Mont Blanc Alpine Estate.